(Minghui.org) Munich is a historic and popular tourist destination, and Dafa practitioners frequently hold events there to introduce Falun Dafa cultivation practice to visitors and residents. Through exercise demonstrations, posters, and banners, practitioners share the discipline's benefits to mind and body. They also expose how their fellow practitioners in China are persecuted for their belief by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

Practitioners recently held two events as part of their ongoing outreach efforts, at Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz on March 2 and March 9, respectively. Marienplatz is a main square near the city hall and is the geographical and cultural heart of Munich. Odeonsplatz is a large square located between the Residenz, the former residence of Bavarian monarchs, and the Englischer Garten. Both are popular gathering places in central Munich.

Practitioners introduce Falun Dafa at Marienplatz on March 2, 2024. 

Practitioners demonstrate the Falun Dafa exercises at Odeonsplatz on March 9, 2024. 

People talk with practitioners at Odeonsplatz and sign a petition to call for an end to the persecution in China.

The weather was fine for both events. Many people stopped to read the banners emblazoned with “Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance” and “Stop the Organ Harvesting from Falun Dafa Practitioners in China.” Many asked questions and talked with practitioners. Most people were shocked to hear how the CCP has been brutally suppressing the group since July 1999. Many people said they wished practitioners well and signed petitions calling to end the atrocities in China. 

“Hope My Signature Can Help Save People”

Accountant Gerianna Machholz 

When accountant Gerianna Machholz passed by Odeonsplatz on March 9, she stopped at the Falun Dafa booth and talked with a practitioner. She signed a petition urging an end to the tragedies in China.

Ms. Machholz said she’d heard about forced organ harvesting in China before, and she hopes her signature can help end the brutality. “This is one of the most horrific crimes I’ve ever heard of and it truly left me speechless,” she said. “Hopefully, my signature helps and a lot of people can be saved, because this is so terrible.”

“This is an issue beyond religions, since most people can tell the difference between good and bad,” Ms. Machholz added. “Because the CCP ideology is so sinful and it went to this level, Heaven will not allow it to continue.” 

Ms. Machholz believes the CCP creates terror to control people. She said that Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are great. “If everyone could follow them, there would be no bad deeds or wars. That is why I absolutely support them,” she said.

Ms. Machholz shared that she just watched Shen Yun perform in Frankfurt and enjoyed it very much. She said she also planned to download a copy of Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa, and read it. 

Austrian Tourists: “Falun Dafa’s Principles Are Important”

Werner Schifter and Alexander Kielmansek from Vienna, Austria

Two tourists from Vienna, Austria, Werner Schifter and Alexander Kielmansek, talked to practitioners during the event at Odeonsplatz, and then signed the petition. Mr. Kielmansek thanked practitioners for telling them about Falun Dafa and said he was happy to help stop the crime of organ harvesting by signing a petition. He added that organ harvesting from Falun Dafa practitioners is a crime against humanity. 

Mr. Schifter said it was good to expose the CCP’s brutality in public like this. He feels that this is what society needs, and more people should step forward and support practitioners’ efforts. 

Both men said they appreciated the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance very much. Mr. Kielmansek said, “I fully agree with them and would like to follow them in my life.” “These principles are important to mankind,” added Mr. Schifter. 

Mr. Kielmansek remarked that it’s unfortunate that such great values are suppressed in China simply because the CCP is against all belief systems. “They took power and screwed up everything. They are criminals,” he said. 

“These Crimes Must Stop”

People sign the petition during the event at Marienplatz.

Musician Bobby said the mistreatment that Falun Dafa practitioners suffer in China is tragic, especially the forced organ harvesting. “This is not poor people who sell their organs to make a living. This is organ theft – a criminal offense,” he said. He added that people cannot just do things recklessly because they have power, and affirmed that that’s why he signed the petition to end this bad deed. 

Musician Bobby

Another musician who stopped by the booth said that organ harvesting by the CCP is a crime against humanity. He was sorry to hear that Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted for their belief, including following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. He believes this is a sin committed by the CCP, and that communist ideology has driven ordinary citizens to commit crimes.